Steam-jacket for oil-pumps



L. C. STEFFERUD.

STEAM JACKET FOR OIL PUMPS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-2'5, 1911.

1,3281906, Patentd Jan. 27 1920.

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rrnn sirens earner rrio LEONARD G. STEFFEBUD, OF BRANDT, SOUTH DAKOTA.

STEAM-JACKET FOR OIL-PUMPS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 28, 1917. Serial No. 193,322.

erally to improvements in that class of in-.

venticns known as pumps and more particularly relates to a steam jacket for oil pumps.

As the primary aim and object this invention embraces the provision of a device of the above character designed for housing an oil pump of that type used in conjunction with a steam engine for lubricating purposes for assuring of a ready flow of the oil, especially in cold weather, to consequently assure of an effective operation of an engine. v

More particularly this invention contemplates the provision of a device of the above character constructed to permit of the ready access to the pump in the event repairs are necessary.

More specific objects of this invention include the provision of means for supply ing steam to the steam chamber aswell as means for draining condensation therefrom. Among th other aims and objects of this invention may be recited the provision of a device of the above character wherein the parts are few, the construction simple, the cost of production low, and the efficiency high.

Other improvements and novel details in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the apparatus will be brought out more in detail in the description to follow, which for a clear understanding of the invention should be considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein is disclosed for the purpose'of illustration a convenient and satisfactory embodiment of the invention. It is to be noted in this connection that minor changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the principle of operation'of the various parts.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical central section thereof, and

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the invention.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now, more particularly, to the Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a lubricating oil pump indicated in its entirety by the numeral 1 being preferably of a conventional automatic steam actuated type commonly employed on steam traction engines. Leading to the lower end of the .pump is an inlet pipe 2 while leading to a point adjacent the oppos te end is an outlet pipe 3. Housing the pump 1 is an improved steam jacket indicated in its entirety by the numeral 1 which is designed to assure of the maintenance of the oil in the pump 1 in proper condition so that it will readily flow, especially in cold weather. In the present instance, the acket may be said to consist of a receptacle embodying a base or bottom 5 having double walls extending upwardly therefrom preferably consisting of an inner shell 6 of a cylindrical contour and an outer shell 7 of a similar contour arranged in spaced relation with the inner shell and having its upper edge terminating short of the inner shell and formed with an outwardly extending annular flange 8. The space in the innershell constitutes a main compartment for receiving the pump 1 which rests on the base or bottom approximately centrally thereof while the shells 6 and 7 are provided with openings 9 for accommodating the inlet and outlet pipes 2 and 3 respectively. The space between the two shells constitutes a steam chamber 10 which acts as a heat unit for assuring of the maintenance of the oil in the pump in the proper condition so that it will flow. A concave top 11 rests against the upper edge of the inner shell and is formed at its outer edge with an outwardly extending flange 12 which rests upon and is soldered to the annular flange 8. This top is formed with an opening 13 while integral with the top about the opening is an upstanding collar 14 while pivotally mounted on the upper surface of the top as at 15 is a flanged lid or cover 16 the flanged portion 17 of which is designed to telescope the collar to cooperate therewith in providing an effective closure for the main compartment. A knob 18 is carried by the top of the lid or cover and facilitates the raising thereof when it is desired to have access within the main compartmentwith a view of makin r repairs to the pump.

In supplying the steam chamber 10 an inlet pipe 19 has one end connected to the outer shell 7 about an opening therein and is thus arranged in communication with the jacket chamber 10. A manually operable globe valve 20 is mounted in the inlet pipe to control the passage of steam therethrough. A drain cock 21 is mounted in the outer shell adjacent the bottom of the steam chamber and permits of the removal of condensation from the chamber when desi ed.

The bottom 5 is preferably formed with flanges 22 while suitable fastening devices, not shown, are adapted to cotiperate therewith in fastening the device in a substantially rigid position on an engine.

In use, it is apparent that in cold weather lubricating oil has a tendency to thicken and will not fiow readily and in overcoming this inconvenience it is a principal advantage of this invention when the parts are assembled in the manner shown and described, it is only necessary to adjust the valve 20 to allow steam to flow into the steam chamber 10 and inasmuch as this encircles the main compartment in the receptacle, it acts as a heat unit for the oil in the pump and assures of the ready flow of the oil.

In connection with the foregoing, it is to be appreciated that when a suiiicient amount of steam has been admitted into the steam chamber 10 to heat the air in the space between the inner shell 6 and the cylinder 1, which space constitutes an air chamber, the supply of steam may be out OK with the result that the subsequent condensation will produce a partial vacuum in the steam chamber 10 and thus in effect provide an insulation between the outside air and the heated air in the chamber mentioned. When the device is thus used, the air within the inner shell is maintained in a heated condition and the steam from the main supply is thus used economically.

It is believed in view of the foregoing description that a further detailed description of the operation of the invention is entirely unnecessary. Likewise it is believed that the advantages of the invention will be readily apparent.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this inven tion could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense. It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having thus fully described this invention,- what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters-Patent, is

1. In a device as described, in combina tion, a steam jacket having a base portion, and an upstanding inner shell and an outer shell, the inner shell being higher than the outer shell, a concave top portion formed with an outwardly-extending flange adapted to rest upon the upper edge of the outer shell, a lubricating oil pump secured centrally upon said base-portion and having its sides spaced away from the inner shell and its top spaced away from said top portion, said top portion being provided with an opening, a cover adapted to close said open ing, said opening giving access to said oil pump, a steam-conducting pipe connected to the outer shell, inlet and outlet pipes connected to said oil pump, the space between said shells constituting a steam chamber and the enveloping space around said oil pump providing a heated-air space, and means for controlling the supply of steam to the steam chamber.

2. The combination with an oil pump, of a supporting base on which the oil pump is carried, a steam jacket upstanding on said base and surrounding the pump and having its inner Wall spaced from the sides of the pump, a top surmounting the steam jacket and spaced from the upper end of the pump, the said top being provided with a removable closure to permit access to the intervening space between the cover and the steam jacket and the pump, and means for controlling the supply of steam to the steam jacket.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LEONARD C. STEFFERUD. 

